Ball arrester



1968 A. E. CICCONE ETAL 3,396,968

BALL ARRESTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 20, 1965 HNTHONV E. C(CCONE VINCENT F. ClccoNE, JR. BY

n-r RNEVS s 0. m N 1 E V T m a 2 M l i I ,Il?! 7 5 g- 13, 1963 A. E. CICCONE ETAL 3,396,968

BALL ARRESTER Filed Oct. 20, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 30 lama/16 /a 4 f}; 36 I 5 .E.

a INVENTORS HNTHoNv E1. Cxccome VINCENT E CICCONEJJR. BY

TTO EYS United States Patent 3,396,968 BALL ARRESTER Anthony E. Ciccone, 39 Madison Ave., Fords, NJ. 08863, and Vincent F. Ciccone, Jr., 89 Grant St., Iselin, NJ. 08830 Filed Oct. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 498,702 Claims. (Cl. 27339) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A bowling device including a chute having an inlet and an outlet and constructed to readily receive a hurled bowling ball. The chute has a relatively wide inlet and curves vertically upward from the inlet to the outlet so that the Velocity of the hurled ball is considerably reduced as it travels along the chute due to the decelerating effect of gravity. In addition, the device is provided with at least one gate resiliently biased into the path of the ball along the chute for constricting the chute adjacent the outlet to a dimension less than the diameter of the hurled ball. The gate is opened by the momentum of the ball to perm-it the ball to pass through to the outlet. The action of the gate against the ball serves to further decelerate the ball and slow it sufliciently so that the ball comes to rest on a trough formed by the closed gate when the gate returns to the closed configuration.

The invention relates to bowling devices and in particular to a bowling device which receives a hurled bowling ball and wherein separate forces act to halt and capture the ball within the device.

The increasing popularity of bowling as a sport and as a pleasant means for exercising the body has led to the expansion of bow-ling facilities throughout the country. Because of the size and expense of a full-scale bowling lane, it has not been practical to install such a lane in the ordinary home so that the homeowner can enjoy the benefits of full-scale bowling on his own premises. Likewise, it has not been found practical to incorporate full scale installations in stores where bowling balls and other accessories are sold and where it would be advantageous to have available means for demonstrating such balls and accessories.

It is therefore an important object of the invention to provide a bowling device for simulating full-scale bowling conditions in a compact form.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively compact device of relatively simple design and construction which is capable of receiving a full-size bowling ball hurled under full-sacle bowling conditions for use as a game, an exercising means, a demonstration device, a training apparatus or the like.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a bowling device for halting and capturing a hurled bowling ball of full-size dimensions wherein the device has a chute including an inlet with large enough dimensions and an outlet such that the hurled ball is readily received in the inlet and is directed vertically upward toward the outlet so that the momentum of the ball is reduced due to the force of gravity.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a bowling device wherein resiliently biased means are located in the path of the ball along the chute adjacent the outlet for further reducing the momentum of the ball.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide such a bowling device wherein the resilient biasing force of the biasing means is adjustable to accommodate hurled balls having varying amounts of momentum.

These and other objects, advantages, features and uses will be apparent during the course of the following description.

Patented Aug. 13, 1968 The bowling device of the invention comprises a chute which has an inlet and an outlet and is constructed to readily receive a hurled bowling ball. The chute has a relatively wide inlet and curves vertically upward from the inlet to the outlet so that the velocity of the hurled ball is considerably reduced as it travels along the chute due to the decelerating effect of gravity. In addition, the device is provided with means biased into the path of the ball along the chute for constricting the chute adjacent the outlet to a dimension less than the diameter of the ball and forming a gate which is opened by the momentum of the ball to permit the ball to pass through to the outlet. The action of the biased means against the ball serves to further decelerate the ball and slow it sufiiciently so that it comes to rest on a trough formed by the closed gate when the gate returns to the closed configuration.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a bowling device constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal plan view of the bowling device of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevational view of the bowling device of FIGURE 1 viewed in the direction of the arrow 3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the bowling device of FIGURE I, viewed in the direction of arrow 4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIGURE 3, viewed in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged plan view of one of the component parts of the bowling device of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6, viewed in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIGURE 4, viewed in the direction of the arrows.

In the drawings, wherein, for the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of the bowling device of the invention, the numeral 10 designates the bowling device generally. Bowling device 10 is seen to comprise a frame structure illustrated in the form of a housing 12, a chute 14 within the housing, a gate 15 including first and second gate members 16 and 18, and a positive stop shown in the form of a pad 20.

Chute 14 is Provided with an inlet 22 having a horizontal width which is greater than the diameter of a full-size bowling ball so as to readily receive hurled bowling ball 26, and an outlet 24 through which ball 26 emerges from chute 14 through gate 15 adjacent the outlet. Gate members 16 and 18 are each hinged to the housing by means of hinges 32 and 33, respectively, for pivotal movement between a first position (-see FIGURE 4) wherein the gate is in a closed configuration and the opening between the gate members is less than the diameter of ball 26 and a second position (see FIGURE 5) wherein the gate is open to permit the ball to pass therethrough and are biased toward the respective first positions in a manner which will be more fully explained below.

Ball 26 is hurled horizontally toward inlet 22 and enters chute 14 which curves vertically upward toward outlet 24 as indicated by the arrow in FIGURE 5 so that the ball is directed along a path which turns vertically upward and is decelerated due to the force of gravity. Gate members 16 and 18 are biased toward their respective first positions by resilient biasing means 34 and 35. The biasing force exerted by means 34 and 35 upon gate members 16 and 18, respectively, may be adjusted by means of crank handles 36 and 37, respectively, so that the gate members will just open as a result of the force exerted by ball 26 to permit the ball to pass through the gate 15 and outlet 24. The resistance offered by the gate members to the passage of the ball through the gate serves to further decelerate the ball and cause it to come to rest on the trough formed by the opening between gate members 16 and 18. If the momentum of the ball is not sufliciently reduced by its passage through the gate, it will proceed upwardly until it hits stop pad 20 which will cause it to drop back into the trough.

If the momentum of the hurled ball is insufficient to overcome the force which biases gate members 16 and 18 to their first positions wherein gate 15 constricts the chute, the ball will not go through outlet 24 of chute 14 but instead will roll back down chute 14 to the inlet 22. Thus, it can be seen that by suitably adjusting the bias force of means 34 and 35, the bowling device may be used for any of the purposes outlined above. For example, as a training or exercise device the biasing means are adjusted to cause the bowler to put enough momentum on the ball so that it goes through the gate. As a game the biasing means may be adjusted so that the gate otters considerable resistance and points are scored when the ball goes through the gate. By making the width of the inlet of the order of magnitude of the width of a full-scale bowling lane, actual bowling conditions may be simulated without the full length requirements of such a lane. It is obvious that other variations may be devised to use the device in testing or in improving a bowlers delivery or as a game or any other means as outlined above.

The bias of the gate members 16 and 18 are respectively adjusted through adjustment of means 34 and 35 by means of crank handles 36 and 37. The handles are employed to adjust the tension of spring means within hinges 32 and 33. Both biasing means are adjusted independently and similarly so that it suflices to describe the adjustment of means 34 which biases gate member 16.

Hinge 32 is made up of plates 40 and 42 which are pivotally movable with respect to each other about a hinge pin 44. Gate member 16 is aflixed to plate 40 while plate 42 is affixed to housing 12 and the gate member offers resistance to ball 26 in proportion to the tension of a helical spring 46 which extends about hinge pin 44 and is secured at one end 47 to a rotatable collar 48 fixed to crank handle 36 for rotation therewith. The tension of spring 46 is adjusted by removing screw 49 from a hole 50 in the collar 48 and turning crank handle 36 counterclockwise to increase tension or clockwise to decrease tension. After the desired tension is obtained, the screw 49 is reinserted into the hole 50 nearest to plate 40. Screw 49 bears against plate 40 and the other end 52 of spring 46 bears against plate 42 (FIGURES 6-8) to bias gate member 16 toward its first position where gate is in a closed configuration.

Stop pad is mounted to housinglZ by means of rods which are held in fittings 28. The height of pad 20 may be adjusted as can be seen in the figures or it may be removed if desired.

It will be apparent that the invention is not to be limited to the embodiment set forth in the drawings and description, and that variations may be made in form and construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for halting and capturing a hurled bowling ball, said device comprising:

an upwardly curved chute including an inlet having a horizontal width substantially greater than the diameter of the hurled bowling ball for readily receiving said hurled ball and an outlet and defining a path between the inlet and outlet which is generally horizontal at the inlet and is curved to be directed vertically upward toward the outlet for reducing the momentum of the hurled bowling ball entering the inlet and traversing the path from the inlet toward the outlet;

means juxtaposed with said outlet and biased into the vertically upwardly directed path of the ball along the chute for constricting the chute along the width of the chute adjacent the outlet to a dimension less than the diameter of the ball and being displaceable against a biasing force to permit passage of the ball therethrough, said means returning to the constricted dimension after such passage of the ball therethrough and providing a rest for the ball for precluding return of the ball vertically downwardly along the path toward the inlet; and

means for resiliently biasing said constricting means into the path with a force low enough to permit passage of the ball vertically upwardly entirely through the constricting means and sufiicient to further reduce the upward momentum of the ball as the ball passes through the constricting means such that the ball is readily halted and returns to rest upon said constricting means adjacent the vertically uppermost end of said path.

2. A device of claim 1 wherein the device has a frame structure, the chute is oriented within the structure for receiving a horizontally traveling ball and diverting said ball vertically upwardly to reduced the momentum thereof by such vertical travel, and said constricting means include a gate having at least one gate member hinged to said frame structure for pivotal movement between a first position, wherein the gate member constricts the chute, and a second position wherein the ball may pass through the gate, the first position being located such that the ball will come to rest against the gate .mernber after passing through the gate and upon return of the gate member to the first position.

3. A device of claim 2 wherein the horizontal width of the chute at the inlet is in the order of magnitude of the width of a full-size bowling lane.

4. A device of claim 2 wherein said constricting means include a gate having at least two gate members disposed oppositely of one another, each hinged to said frame structure for pivotal movement between a first position, wherein the gate members constrict the chute, and a second position wherein the ball may pass through the gate, the first position of each gate member being located such that the ball will come to rest against the gate members after passing through the gate and upon return of the gate members to the respective first positions.

5. A device of claim 1 including means for selectively adjusting the resilient biasing force whereby said means for resiliently biasing the constricting means is made adjustable to permit variation of the biasing force to accommodate balls with varying amounts of momentum.

6. A device of claim 5 including a positive stop beyond the constricting means in the direction of said path for halting a ball which has been slowed but not brought to rest by the vertical travel and the resiliently biased constricting means.

7. A device of claim 5 wherein the device has a frame structure, the chute is oriented within the structure for receiving a horizontally traveling ball and diverting said ball vertically upwardly to reduce the momentum thereof by such vertical travel, and said constricting means include agate having at least one gate member hinged to said frame structure for pivotal movement between a first position, wherein the gate member constricts the chute, and a second position wherein the ball may pass through the gate, the first position being located such that the ball will come to rest against the gate member after passing through the gate and upon return of the gate member to the first position.

8. A device of claim 7 wherein said means for resilient ly biasing the constricting means includes at least one Spring biasing the gate member toward the first position and the means for selectively adjusting the resilient biasing force includes means for adjusting the tension in the spring.

9. A device of claim 7 wherein said constricting means include a gate having at least two gate members disposed oppositely of one another, each hinged to said frame structure for pivotal movement between a first position, wherein the gate members constrict the chute, and a secend position wherein the ball may pass through the gate, the first position of each gate member being located such that the ball will come to rest against the gate members after passing through the gate and upon return of the gate members to the respective first positions.

10. A device of claim 8 including a pad fixed to the frame and located beyond the gate member in the direction of the path from the inlet toward the outlet for intercepting and halting a ball which has beenslowed but not brought to rest by the vertical travel and the resiliently biased constricting means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 236,844 11/1964 Austria.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

M. R. PAGE, Assistant Examiner. 

